Spring plank



March 26, 1929. G T JOHNSON 1,706,783

y SPRING PLANK Filed Jan- 4, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l abbi/,mags

G. T. JOHNSON SPRING' PLANK March 26, 1929.

Filed Jan. 4, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 March 26, 1929.

G. T. JOHNSON SPRING PLANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

i f UNITED STATES GEORGE r. Jamison, or COLUMBUS, 01110, AssmNoE To THE EUcxEYE STEEL cas'r- PATENT oFFicE.

mes COMPANY, or comimos, omo.

SPRING BLANK.

Application led January 4, 1927. vSerial No. 158,948.

This invention relates to car trucks characterized by having a large number of springs arranged under the bolster and has special reference to the sprlng plank mounting, the object being to provide a novel form of spring plank by which the removal of the side frame may be accomplished wlthout ma terially disturbing the bolster, springs, and spring plank. The invention 1s lllustrated in the accom anying drawings and wlll be hereinafter ully described, the novel features being particularly polnted out 1n the appended claims.

VIn the drawings, Figure 1 1s a s1de elevation of a car truck having the presentinven-i tion embodied therein;

Figu taken through the bolster and the .slde frame substantially in the medial vertlcal longitudinal plane of the side frame;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectlon on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section and plan illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 1s a section on the line 5-5 of,

Fi 4. v

Ihe side frame of a car truck embodylng the present invention comprisesatop member 1, a bottom member 2, and columns 3 connecting the top and bottom members and defining an opening to receive the ends of the bolster 4 and s ring plank 5, the ournal boxes 6 being pre erably integral with the side frame. Spring seats 7 lare formed on the lower member of the side frame adjacent the bases of the columns and the spring plank is adapted to occupy the space between these seats, the springs 8 and 9 being carried by said seats and by the spring plank, and it will be noted that this construction will accommodate a large number of s rings, the end springs being supported by t e seats on a. higher level than the central group'. The spring plank is preferably of pressed steel, although it may be cast, and is in the form of' a shallow trough, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, and rests upon the lower member of the side frame between the spring seats 7 and is held against relative re 2 is a section, on a larger scale,

endwise movement by Vthe well-known interengaging sockets and lugs as indicated at 5 Figs. 1 and2. The bolster is recessedat its ends on its bottom, as at 9, to accommodate the higher end springs, the setting of the end springs on a higher level affording anv advantageous distribution fof metal in the bottom of the lower member of the side frame. Y In the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the inner sides of the spring seats 7 are straight and the upstanding side flanges of the spring plankl are straight and the seats 7 each support only a part of the spring resting thereon. To provide support for 4the remaining portion of the spring there is a shelf l() projecting inwardly from the upper edge of each flange of the spring plank which shelf is reenforced by a rib 11. f the spring plank be cast, the shelf and ribs will, of course, be integral with the flange, but if the plank be pressed, a separate forging or bracket may be riveted on. The edge of the shelf is preferably convex to fit between the outer springs of the central group of springs, and the slight space between the sprin plank and the seat 7 is or'may be bridge by a wear plate or shim 12 resting on the seat and having the shelf and downturned lips or flanges 13 torengage th'e inner and outer sides ofthe seats, these lips or flanges being of less depth than the height of the interengagin lugsk .between frame and spring plank. he end springs rest on the wear plate or shim 12, and a. wear plate or shim 13L on the spring plank receives the central group of springs. In Figuros-1, 2 and 3, the height ofthe spring the spring seat 7 so that the upper surfaces of the shelf and the seat are flush. In Figures 4 and 5, the seat 7 is of less height than the-flange 'of the spring plank 14 and an outwardly extending shelf 15,` as Well as the inwardly extending shelf 16, is provided, the

'nsl

plank flange is the same as the height of shelf-16 being the same as the shelf l() i'all respects While the shelf 15 projects over and rests upon the spring seat. A shimor wear plate 18 may be used, if desired.

The various shims or wear plates may be of any desired thickness and if the ribs 11 should be reduced in width, so that the shelves overhang, it will not be necessary to employ shims of special design and they may be provided in such number and of' such thickness as to maintain the coupler at the required height from the track rails.

When used with a side frame and bolster provided with suitable engagement features, the construction shown in Figures l to 5, if the spring plank be jacked up so as to clear the lugs by which it is retained on the side frame, the spring plank, springs, and bolster will be stable if supported in the raised position, and the side frame may be easily removed leaving the bolster, springs and spring plank intact, as well' as other parts for which the bolster' or spring plank form supports.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spring plank having upstanding side flanges at its outer end portions and adapted to carry a group of springs between its flanges, and shelves projecting inwardly and outwardly from its flanges to support additional springs at a higher level than the first- Y mentioned springs.

2'. The combination of a side frame, spring seats on the lower member of the side frame, a spring plank resting on the side f rame between the spring seats and having inwardly projecting shelves, springs supported on the spring seats and partially on said shelves, and a group of springs carried by the spring plank at av level lower than the spring seats.

3. The combination of a side frame, spring seats on the lower member of the side frame having their side edges straight and transverse to the side frame, a spring plank resting on the side frame between the spring seats and having straight sides fitting close to the straight sides of the spring seats, shelves inwardly of the sidesof the spring plank coacting with said spring seats, springs carried jointly by the spring seats and the shelves, and springs carried by the spring plank at a lower level than the firstmentioned springs.

4. The combination of a side frame provided with spring seats, a spring plank carrying spring seats, a plurality of spr-ings for supporting a bolster, certain of said springs 'resting partially upon the spring seats on the side frame and partially upon the spring seats on the spring plank.

5. The combination of a side frame provided with spring seats, a spring plank carrying elevated spring seats, said spring plank having removable interlocking engagement with the side frame, a bolster, a group of springs interposed between the spring plank and the bolster, and other springs under the bolster and resting at their raised from its interlocking engagement with the side frame, the latter may be moved laterally without otherwise disturbing the spring plank or superimposed parts.

6. The combination of a side frame provided with spring seats, a spring plank having upstanding side flanges and adapted to provide spring seats between said upstanding flanges, and spring seats inwardly of said flanges and positioned to assist in supporting springs seated on the spring seats of the side frame. y

7. The combination of a side frame and a spring plank having upstanding flanges at its outer end portions and adapted to carry a group of springs between its flanges, shelves extending from the flanges of the spring plank and positioned to assist in supporting additional springs, and other seats to receive lower end portions of said additional springs.

8. The combination of a side frame and a spring plank, the latter having upstanding side flanges at its outer end portions and adapted tocarry a group of' springs between its flanges, and shelves inwardly of said flanges to assist in supporting additional springs at a higher level than the first-mentioned springs, and supporting means for such additional springs laterally of the upstanding flanges of the spring plank.

9. The combination with a side frame, of a spring bearing member having interlocking engagement with the side frame and adapted to carry some springs on one level and carrying shelves extending inwardly to partially support other. springs on another level, said bearing member being adapted when moved out of interlocking engagement with the side frame, to permit lateral withdrawal of said side frame at its lower portion.

l0. The combination with a side frame provided with spring seats, of a spring bearing member supported by the .lower portion of the side frame and carrying upwardly said bearing member which is on a lower level.

lll@

, 1,voe,vas 3 12. The combination of a side frame havand so disposed on the higher portion thereing a central opening and at its lower porof as to transmit a portion of its load to the tion provided with load supporting shelves frameinwardly beyond the higher shelf. l0 on different levels, a spring supporting mem- In testimony whereof, .I have signed this 5 ber supported parta 1y by t e lower shelf specification. l

and partially by the higher shelf, and a v spring mounted on said supporting member GEORGE T. JOHNSON. 

